ATTOM reports 42K foreclosure filings in April, up 18% from a year ago

U.S. foreclosure activity declined on a monthly basis in April but continued to post significant year-over-year increases as lenders worked through distressed inventory, according to ATTOM.

The company’s April 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report found 42,430 properties nationwide recorded foreclosure filings during the month, including default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions. That represented an 8% decline from March but an 18% increase compared to April 2025.

“Foreclosure activity continued its gradual trend higher in April, with both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures posting annual gains,” Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, said in a statement.

“While overall filings declined from the previous month, the year-over-year increases suggest lenders may be working through distressed inventory as higher borrowing costs and affordability challenges impact some homeowners. Even so, foreclosure activity remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.”

Delaware posts highest foreclosure rate

Nationally, one in every 3,388 housing units had a foreclosure filing in April.

Delaware recorded the highest foreclosure rate in the country at one filing for every 1,739 housing units. South Carolina was close behind at one in every 1,745 housing units, followed by Florida (one in 2,092), Indiana (one in 2,129) and Illinois (one in 2,262).

Among metropolitan areas with populations above 500,000, Lakeland, Florida, posted the highest foreclosure rate with one filing for every 1,221 housing units.

Columbia, South Carolina, ranked second with one filing for every 1,287 housing units, followed by Charleston, South Carolina (one in 1,483); Bakersfield, California (one in 1,566); and Cape Coral, Florida (one in 1,628).

Foreclosure starts increase from year ago

Lenders initiated foreclosure proceedings on 28,414 properties nationwide during April. While that figure was down 6% from March, it marked a 12% increase year over year.

Florida led the nation in foreclosure starts with 3,505 filings, followed by Texas with 3,154 and California with 2,786. Georgia and Illinois rounded out the top five with 1,407 and 1,366 foreclosure starts, respectively.

Several major metro areas recorded sharp annual increases in foreclosure starts. Pittsburgh posted one of the largest jumps, rising from 82 foreclosure starts in April 2025 to 215 this year.

Austin also saw a significant increase, climbing from 158 foreclosure starts last year to 396 this April. Raleigh, North Carolina; Lakeland, Florida; and Akron, Ohio, also posted notable annual gains.

Bank-owned foreclosures, also known as real estate-owned properties (REOs), continued to trend higher on an annual basis.

Lenders repossessed 5,098 properties nationwide in April, down 3% from March but up 42% from April 2025.

Texas recorded the highest number of completed foreclosures with 640 REOs, followed by California with 515 and Florida with 381. Pennsylvania and Illinois followed with 346 and 340 REOs, respectively.

Some metropolitan areas, however, saw significant annual declines in completed foreclosures. Atlanta posted one of the steepest drops, falling from 213 REOs in April 2025 to 52 this year.

Kansas City, Missouri; Flint, Michigan; Macon, Georgia; and Cleveland also recorded year-over-year declines in REO activity.

This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication. The system helps convert company announcements and industry data into HousingWire-style news coverage.